Used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer for sale: everything you need to know

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer isn’t what you’d call a traditional product from the brand. It isn’t a sporty saloon or coupe, it mostly drives its front wheels rather than those at the rear, and there’s no high-performance M model. But it’s been incredibly popular, so as BMW’s accountants might ask, who needs tradition?

The Active Tourer is now in its second generation, which arrived in 2022, though below we’re concentrating mostly on the previous model as they’re abundant on the used market, and still spacious, frugal, and pretty good to drive.

Contemporary rivals included the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Volkswagen Golf SV, and the Ford C-Max, while you might also consider SUV-style models like BMW’s own X1 and X2, depending on how much practicality you need.

Should you buy a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer?

A small MPV seems like a strange car to come from BMW, but then an SUV did at one point too. The key is that BMW usually does things right, and in this case that means an MPV that drives well, is built solidly, and has a wide range of powertrains (including a plug-in hybrid) to suit nearly every need.

The Active Tourer shares its underpinnings with the 1 Series and some MINI models, so its surprisingly agile handling should come as no surprise. Some models have xDrive all-wheel drive, so if you need the extra all-weather ability, that’s an option too.

You’d hope for plenty of space in an MPV, and you get it here. A Gran Tourer model takes care of seven-seat needs, but the five-seat Active Tourer is large enough inside provided front seat passengers aren’t basketball players. The boot’s a handy size too, though plug-in models do have slightly less space.

The engine range is strong, including everything from eager three-cylinder petrol and diesels to more potent 2-litre units, and a plug-in hybrid based around the three-cylinder petrol, which adds around 30 miles of EV range to the car’s repertoire. Insurance costs aren’t too high and tax isn’t unreasonable either.

The Active Tourer’s closest rival is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. The Merc doesn’t drive as well but 2019-on models have more wow factor in their cabins. The Volkswagen Golf SV doesn’t have much wow factor but it’s sensible and practical, and the Ford C-Max doesn’t have the class of the premium cars, but does drive very well.

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What’s the best used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer model to buy?

As we note in our full review, the 218i Active Tourer is probably the pick of the range. It’s the most affordable but still has enough punch for a sub-10-second 0-62mph time, and fuel consumption in the high 40s isn’t to be sniffed at either. It’s even quite fun to use, like the same engine is in MINIs, though it’s at its best with the manual gearbox, rather than the automatic.

As a family vehicle we’d stick for SE or Sport trim too. M Sport trim might get cool points from the kids but the larger wheels and stiffer suspension seem like an invitation for pothole-based discomfort these days.

Used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer fuel economy and performance

• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218i: The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol in the 218i makes 136PS, delivering a 9.3-second 0-62mph time and combined economy of up to 47.1mpg.
• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 220i: The 220i gets a larger 2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, developing 178PS. BMW says it’ll get from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, while it’ll also do up to 45.6mpg.
• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 216d: BMW’s entry-level diesel is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged unit, putting out 116PS and promising an 11.1-second 0-62mph run. At 58.9mpg it’s one of the most frugal Active Tourer engines.
• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218d: The 218d steps up to a 2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel with a 150PS output and 9-second 0-62mph time. Combined economy is up to 56.5mpg.
• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 220d: 220d models use a more powerful 2-litre turbodiesel, now making 190PS. 0-62mph drops to 7.6 seconds (or 7.5 seconds for all-wheel drive xDrive versions), with economy at 54.3mpg for front-wheel drive versions and 51.4mpg for the xDrive.
• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 225xe: The 225xe is a plug-in hybrid, using a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor, for 220PS combined and 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. With up to 33.6 miles of EV range, BMW quotes combined economy of up to 188.3mpg.

What used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer trim levels are available?

The Active Tourer has been on sale for a while now so BMW has changed trims and equipment levels over time, but the models detailed below are representative of the most recent versions of the first generation Active Tourer, and feature a high level of standard equipment, from LED headlights to front and rear parking sensors, and standard navigation. As usual, there’s a choice of sportier models or those which have more of a luxury focus, but only the M Sport gets uprated suspension.

• The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer SE gets 16-inch alloy wheels (17 inch on the 218d), LED headlights, heated mirrors and washer jets, fabric trim, two-zone air conditioning, park assist with front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, and navigation.
• The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Sport comes with 17-inch wheels in all models, an automatic tailgate, sports seats, and fabric and Sensatec artificial leather trim.
• The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Luxury gets a different style of 17-inch wheels, chromed kidney grille slats, chrome exterior trim elements, leather trim, and wood and chrome interior trim elements.
• The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer M Sport steps up to 18-inch alloys, and gets an M styling kit, dark exterior trim, M badging, sports front seats, perforated leather trim, a dark headliner, aluminium and chrome interior trim elements, interior M badging, a short-shift gearlever in manual models, an M steering wheel, and M sport suspension.

Used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer dimensions and boot size

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4354mm
• Width: 1800mm (without mirrors), 2038mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1555mm

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer’s boot size is:

• 468 litres (225xe 400 litres)
• 1510 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, 225xe 1350 litres)

Used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer road tax

Find a pre-April 2017 Active Tourer and you’ll pay tax based on its CO2 emissions, making some of the more parsimonious models very cheap indeed to tax. After this date, VED reverts to a flat rate, which currently costs £180 for petrol and diesels, and £170 for the plug-in 225xe.

How much is it to insure a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer?

Perhaps because MPVs are seen as quite sensible, the Active Tourer’s insurance groups are pretty low - a 216d starts in only group 13 and a 218i in group 14, while even the 225xe is only group 23. Similar MPV models from Mercedes and Volkswagen sit in similarly low groups.

Read our full BMW 2 Series Active Tourer review